Poll shows support for gun background checks

But respondents split on voucher schools

A new poll says a wide majority of Wisconsin residents favors background checks for people who buy guns at gun shows or from private residents.

A Marquette University law school poll released Tuesday says 81 percent of residents favor the checks, while 18 percent oppose them.

The numbers were almost identical for respondents who own guns and those who don't. The support was also almost the same between men and women and for residents in all parts of the state.

The same poll shows a clear split in Wisconsin opinions about voucher schools.

According to Charles Franklin, Marquette Law School polling director, 52 percent of respondents would like to see the voucher program expanded statewide or at least in larger districts with some underperforming schools, while 42 percent want it frozen or ended altogether.

The voucher program gives families public money to send their children to private schools. The program currently is only in effect in Milwaukee and Racine, but Gov. Scott Walker has proposed expanding it to nine more school districts.

The poll questioned 1,060 respondents, with about one in three from the city of Milwaukee. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

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